Relay For Life empowers Greater Fall River cancer survivors

When Dave Mondeau started to walk around the track at Bishop Connolly High School June 27 during the 17th Annual Relay For Life of Greater Fall River, he joyfully realized how much progress he's made in his year-long battle to beat cancer.

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By BRIAN J. LOWNEY

southcoasttoday.com

By BRIAN J. LOWNEY

Posted Jul. 5, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By BRIAN J. LOWNEY

Posted Jul. 5, 2014 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

When Dave Mondeau started to walk around the track at Bishop Connolly High School June 27 during the 17th Annual Relay For Life of Greater Fall River, he joyfully realized how much progress he's made in his year-long battle to beat cancer.

Mondeau, a corrections officer who lives in Taunton, suffers from acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He could hardly stand at last year's rally and couldn't join other family members in celebrating the survival of his father-in-law, Al Corvelo of Somerset, who successfully beat bladder cancer a few years ago.

"I'm doing fantastic," said Mondeau, who returned to work in March after a 20-month hiatus. "My doctors are very pleased."

Mondeau said he's in the "maintenance phase" of combating the disease, and admitted that although there have been a few complications, he has made excellent progress.

Mondeau said he is grateful for the support he's received from his family, and especially from his wife Sarah, who not only helped care for her father and husband, but also for her mother, Eileen Corvelo, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last October and is now in remission.

"There are no words to describe how I feel tonight," said Sarah Mondeau, as she reflected on her family's struggle with three different forms of the dreaded disease. "It definitely puts things in perspective."

This year's Relay For Life, called "Finish the Fight," was attended by more than 1,000 cancer survivors, current patients, family members, friends, colleagues and civic leaders. Participants celebrated survival, remembered those who lost the battle, and raised funds to support the American Cancer Society in its quest to eradicate cancer.

The event, which ended Saturday morning, was chaired by Christine Palmer, Judy Lachance and Palmira Aguiar, who led hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers. Sixty-nine teams raised more than $200,000 through pledges and by selling snacks, trinkets, jewelry and face-painting.

During the evening, choral selections were offered by the G20 Boys Barbershop Chorus of Fall River — youth members of the Barbershop Harmony Society.

One of the most visited sites along the track honored Lauren Costa and Ryan Valley, two Somerset students who lost their lives to cancer. Costa, 9, died Christmas Day of 2011. Valley died Sept. 19, 2010, 11 days after his 12th birthday.

Palmer received the American Cancer Society's prestigious Volunteer Values Award, one of only two such honors awarded by the society's New England division.

"I do it from my heart," Palmer said, adding that she would continue her advocacy until a cure for cancer is discovered. "I'm very honored."

According to Michaela Burke, a specialist for the ACS, Palmer was chosen for the award based on her volunteer efforts, as well as upholding the society's mission and values.

Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan offered support and encouragement to those gathered. "This is such an inspirational moment to see so many people fighting for a cure," he said. "The fight is not over. ... We are here to make a difference. We are here to change the world this evening."

Cantor Richard Wolberg, chaplain of the Fall River Police Department, noted how cancer affected his own family, and echoed the mayor's sentiments.